Speaker mulling holding inter-Korean parliamentary meeting in Nov.

SEOUL, Oct. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's parliamentary chief said Monday he is considering holding an inter-Korean parliamentary meeting in November with the participation of 30 delegates from each side.

National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang made the remark at the start of his monthly lunch meeting with the chiefs of the ruling and four opposition parties.

Amid rapprochement on the Korean Peninsula, Moon earlier proposed to the North's Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) that the two parliaments hold a meeting by the end of the year.

Choe Thae-bok, the chairman of the SPA, said in a response last week that he agrees with the proposal "in principle."

"I am thinking about November for the gathering, which may be attended by some 30 members including the five party chiefs," Moon said.

If held, it would be the first-ever parliamentary meeting between the two Koreas.

Lee Hae-chan, the chairman of the ruling Democratic Party, called for the four opposition parties' participation in the proposed meeting.

"It is very important for the National Assembly to ratify the April inter-Korean summit deal at the ongoing regular session," Lee said. "I hope that parliament and political parties change their perspectives at this critical juncture where confrontation is being replaced by peace and co-existence."

Kim Byong-joon, the interim leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, told reporters that he views the proposed parliamentary meeting positively in principle, but he cast doubts on a November gathering.

Speaker mulling holding inter-Korean parliamentary meeting in Nov.

SEOUL, Oct. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's parliamentary chief said Monday he is considering holding an inter-Korean parliamentary meeting in November with the participation of 30 delegates from each side.

National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang made the remark at the start of his monthly lunch meeting with the chiefs of the ruling and four opposition parties.

Amid rapprochement on the Korean Peninsula, Moon earlier proposed to the North's Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) that the two parliaments hold a meeting by the end of the year.

Choe Thae-bok, the chairman of the SPA, said in a response last week that he agrees with the proposal "in principle."

"I am thinking about November for the gathering, which may be attended by some 30 members including the five party chiefs," Moon said.

If held, it would be the first-ever parliamentary meeting between the two Koreas.

Lee Hae-chan, the chairman of the ruling Democratic Party, called for the four opposition parties' participation in the proposed meeting.

"It is very important for the National Assembly to ratify the April inter-Korean summit deal at the ongoing regular session," Lee said. "I hope that parliament and political parties change their perspectives at this critical juncture where confrontation is being replaced by peace and co-existence."

Kim Byong-joon, the interim leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, told reporters that he views the proposed parliamentary meeting positively in principle, but he cast doubts on a November gathering.